ISSN:
1476-5535
Keywords:
Keywords: two-electrode voltage clamp; Xenopus oocyte expression system; undergraduate biology laboratory
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
This collaborative laboratory exercise integrates two upper division laboratory courses (Developmental Biology and Neurobiology) offered to biology majors at Wake Forest University. The laboratory exercise involves the use of the Xenopus oocyte expression system to study the function of specific membrane receptors and ligand-activated channels. cDNA or mRNA for receptor proteins is injected into Xenopus oocytes. The oocytes are assayed for expression of receptor proteins and two-electrode voltage clamping is done to determine whether the expressed proteins are functional in the oocyte system. This series of laboratory exercises is innovative in its interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to undergraduate teaching, and in its use of sophisticated molecular biological and physiological techniques in the undergraduate teaching laboratory. Students learn first-hand how these techniques have been used to achieve a new level of understanding of both development and neurobiology. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2000) 24, 353–358.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.jim.2900780
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